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Distinguished social engagement in the truest sense of the word: for their great honorary services, Asu Rayamajhi, Tim Schneider and Tanja Mohr were awarded prizes at the International Christmas Party. The International Center, made up of the International Relations Office, the Language Center, the non-profit organization, “International Society Aalen e.V” and the Welcome Office East Wuerttemberg (WISO), hosted the party.

Around one hundred students, employees and professors gathered in the festively decorated cafeteria at Campus Burren for the International Christmas Party. The highlight of the event was awarding various prizes to students in Aalen, who had applied themselves for international engagement. The Nepalese student Asu Rayamajhi received (along with one thousand Euros) the prize from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for outstanding performance as an international student. The Master’s student in the degree program Ophthalmic Optics and Pyschophysics at Aalen University was recognized for her exceptional social engagement and academic performance. “I noticed her quite early in my lectures through her active participation and profound interest”, says Professor Dr. Ulrike Paffrath. Additionally, she distinguished herself through her voluntary work for the Govinda Entwicklungshilfe e.V. and the Kulturküche in Aalen. In the state’s admission center in Ellwangen, the Master’s student taught German to refugees. For the organization Blind Rocks which helps severely blinded people in Nepal, she has been the contact person for all of Germany since the beginning of the year. At the end of November, Asu Rayamajhi returned to Nepal – there she conducted eye examinations for orphaned children and provided them with glasses.

At Aalen University, Asu Rayamajhi’s social engagement is also impressive: here, she brought a fundraising campaign to life in 2015 after a terrible earthquake in Nepal, and applied herself in supporting the survivors. Since 2013, she has provided help and advice to international students, and is also active as a campus scout.

For the second time, the non-profit organization, “International Society Aalen e.V (ISA)” awarded prizes to internationally engaged students of Aalen University. Tim Schneider received the prize of “Buddy of the Year 2018” for his support of four international students through the Buddy Program. In addition, the Technology Management-graduate was honoured for his repeated participation in the Buddy Program for young refugees. Tanja Mohr, an International Business student, won the prize “Sharing Experiences Abroad 2018”. By sharing her experiences from her semesters abroad, she encouraged her classmates to study abroad. Both award winners received prizes of 500 Euros.

A cultural international programme surrounded the award ceremony. Exchange students from Mexico, Finland and the USA presented some Christmas songs, a student from Columbia shared some of the Christmas traditions from her home and the university choir performed in closing. The International Relations Office and Studierendenwerk Ulm catered to everyone’s wellbeing. “It was an outstanding event, really beautiful”, says Pascal Cromm, director of the International Relations Office of Aalen University. “We were able to recognize three special students and listen to enthralling laudations”, adds Martina Kübler, the Vice Director of the International Relations Office. “We would like to continue this format”, says Cromm.

Photo Credits: © Hochschule Aalen/ Martina Kübler